# 2021 Real Salt Lake season

The 2021 Real Salt Lake season was the team's 17th year of existence, and their 17th consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top division of the American soccer pyramid. RSL entered the 2021 season looking to rebound from a tumultuous 2020 season, having finished near the bottom of the table and endured the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic continued to have a significant impact on MLS in 2021, causing the season's start to be delayed to mid-April instead of the traditional first weekend in March, a reworked schedule that focused heavily on intra-conference play to reduce travel, and stadiums at reduced capacity. The state of Utah allowed RSL to open the season with Rio Tinto Stadium at 50% capacity. The 2021 Major League Soccer season began on April 16, 2021, though RSL did not begin their season until the following week, April 24, having had a bye in the opening weekend due to the odd number of teams in MLS in 2021.
RSL's offseason was marked by the retirements of several key players, including long time captain Kyle Beckerman. The club's ownership was also in question, as Dell Loy Hansen had agreed to sell the club following allegations of racism directed at club players and employees. The pending sale of the club resulted in a relatively quiet offseason on the signing front, with most of the clubs new signings coming from the club's own USL Championship team, Real Monarchs.
RSL entered the season with low expectations, with most pre-season projections predicting a near last place finish. Despite this, RSL opened the season with two straight wins, including a road win at Minnesota. They would go on to spend much of the spring and summer hovering at or just above the playoff line. In a surprising move, head coach Freddy Juarez departed the club on August 27 to take a position as an assistant coach to Brian Schmetzer in Seattle. Assistant coach Pablo Mastroeni took over the head coaching position on an interim basis. Under Mastroeni's leadership, the club saw mixed form, rarely winning or losing consecutive matches. RSL qualified for the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs on the last matchday of the season, or "Decision Day," following a 1–0 road win against Sporting Kansas City. All-star forward Damir Kreilach scored the go-ahead goal in the 90+5" minute of the game, essentially saving the club's season with the final kick of the regular season. The result ensured RSL the 7th and final spot in the playoffs, subsequently eliminating the LA Galaxy, as RSL held the first points tiebreaker, total wins.

## Competitions
### MLS regular season
#### April
#### Standings
##### Western Conference Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 51 | 35 | +16 | 61 | Qualification for the Playoffs Conference semifinals and CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 53 | 33 | +20 | 60 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round and CONCACAF Champions League |
| 3 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 58 | 40 | +18 | 58 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round |
| 4 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 56 | 52 | +4 | 55 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round |
| 5 | Minnesota United FC | 34 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 42 | 44 | −2 | 49 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round |
| 6 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 45 | 45 | 0 | 49 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round |
| 7 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 55 | 54 | +1 | 48 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round |
| 8 | LA Galaxy | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 50 | 54 | −4 | 48 | |
| 9 | Los Angeles FC | 34 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 53 | 51 | +2 | 45 | |
| 10 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 46 | 54 | −8 | 41 | |
| 11 | FC Dallas | 34 | 7 | 15 | 12 | 47 | 56 | −9 | 33 | |
| 12 | Austin FC | 34 | 9 | 21 | 4 | 35 | 56 | −21 | 31 | |
| 13 | Houston Dynamo FC | 34 | 6 | 16 | 12 | 36 | 54 | −18 | 30 | |
* ↑ Canadian clubs cannot qualify for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.

##### Overall table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 11 | Minnesota United FC | 34 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 42 | 44 | −2 | 49 |
| 12 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 45 | 45 | 0 | 49 |
| 13 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 55 | 54 | +1 | 48 |
| 14 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 39 | 33 | +6 | 48 |
| 15 | LA Galaxy | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 50 | 54 | −4 | 48 |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| Pld | Pts | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
| 34 | 48 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 55 | 54 | +1 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 21 | +9 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 25 | 33 | −8 |
Last updated: November 8, 2021 Source: MLS Results Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

### U.S. Open Cup
## Stats
### Squad appearances and goals

    Last updated December 10, 2021.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Major League Soccer | Major League Soccer | US Open Cup | US Open Cup | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | USA | David Ochoa | 28 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 18 | GK | USA | Zac MacMath | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | GK | USA | Jeff Dewsnup | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 51 | GK | USA | Andrew Putna | 3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | USA | Andrew Brody | 19 | 0 | 12+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | CAN | Ashtone Morgan | 9 | 0 | 4+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | USA | Donny Toia | 19 | 0 | 15+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | USA | Justen Glad | 34 | 2 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | USA | Erik Holt | 18 | 1 | 14+4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | USA | Aaron Herrera | 32 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | TRI | Noah Powder | 7 | 0 | 2+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | USA | Bret Halsey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | DF | URU | Marcelo Silva | 23 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 32 | DF | USA | Zack Farnsworth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | DF | CRO | Toni Datković | 8 | 0 | 7+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 6 | MF | ARG | Pablo Ruíz | 32 | 0 | 24+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | CRO | Damir Kreilach | 36 | 16 | 32+1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | MF | IRQ | Justin Meram | 34 | 2 | 15+16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | SVK | Albert Rusnák | 35 | 11 | 34 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | USA | Nick Besler | 28 | 0 | 18+9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | CUB | Maikel Chang | 30 | 2 | 12+16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | BRA | Everton Luiz | 27 | 0 | 19+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | ECU | Anderson Julio | 33 | 9 | 10+20 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1+2 | 1 |
| 43 | MF | USA | Justin Portillo | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 7 | FW | USA | Bobby Wood | 20 | 3 | 7+10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0+3 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | ARG | Jonathan Menéndez | 20 | 1 | 10+7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | HON | Douglas Martínez | 6 | 0 | 0+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | USA | Rubio Rubin | 37 | 8 | 25+9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | USA | Chris Garcia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | USA | Bode Davis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | USA | Tate Schmitt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | USA | Milan Iloski | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | VEN | Jeizon Ramírez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Assists and Shutouts

* Stats from MLS Regular season, MLS playoffs, CONCACAF Champions league, and U.S. Open Cup are all included.
* First tie-breaker for assists and shutouts is minutes played.
    As of November 8, 2021

## Club
### Roster

* Age calculated as of December 4, 2021 (The club's final matchday of the season)
    As of June 18, 2021,
| No. | Name | Nationality | Positions | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Seasons with club (year signed) |
| 1 | David Ochoa (HGP) | United States | GK | (2001-01-16)January 16, 2001 (aged 20) | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | 3 (2019) |
| 2 | Andrew Brody | United States | DF | (1995-05-03)May 3, 1995 (aged 26) | Real Monarchs | 1 (2021) |
| 3 | Ashtone Morgan | Canada | DF | (1991-02-09)February 9, 1991 (aged 30) | Toronto FC | 2 (2020) |
| 4 | Donny Toia | United States | DF | (1992-05-28)May 28, 1992 (aged 29) | Orlando City SC | 4 (2011, 2019) |
| 6 | Pablo Ruíz | Argentina | MF | (1998-12-20)December 20, 1998 (aged 22) | San Luis | 4 (2018) |
| 7 | Bobby Wood | United States | FW | (1992-11-15)November 15, 1992 (aged 29) | Hamburger SV | 1 (2021) |
| 8 | Damir Kreilach | Croatia | MF | (1989-04-16)April 16, 1989 (aged 32) | Union Berlin | 4 (2018) |
| 9 | Justin Meram | Iraq | MF | (1988-12-04)December 4, 1988 (aged 33) | Atlanta United FC | 2 (2020) |
| 10 | Jonathan Menéndez | Argentina | FW | (1994-03-05)March 5, 1994 (aged 27) | Independiente | 1 (2021) |
| 11 | Albert Rusnák (DP) | Slovakia | MF | (1994-07-07)July 7, 1994 (aged 27) | FC Groningen | 5 (2017) |
| 12 | Douglas Martínez | Honduras | FW | (1997-06-05)June 5, 1997 (aged 24) | Real Monarchs | 3 (2019) |
| 13 | Nick Besler | United States | MF | (1993-05-07)May 7, 1993 (aged 28) | Real Monarchs | 5 (2017) |
| 14 | Rubio Rubin | United States | FW | (1996-03-01)March 1, 1996 (aged 25) | San Diego Loyal SC | 1 (2021) |
| 15 | Justen Glad (HGP) | United States | DF | (1997-02-28)February 28, 1997 (aged 24) | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | 8 (2014) |
| 16 | Maikel Chang | Cuba | MF | (1991-04-18)April 18, 1991 (aged 30) | Real Monarchs | 2 (2020) |
| 17 | Chris Garcia (HGP) | United States | FW | (2003-01-13)January 13, 2003 (aged 18) | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | 2 (2020) |
| 18 | Zac MacMath | United States | GK | (1991-08-07)August 7, 1991 (aged 30) | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2 (2020) |
| 19 | Bode Davis | United States | FW | (2002-02-22)February 22, 2002 (aged 19) | Real Monarchs | 1 (2021) |
| 20 | Erik Holt (HGP) | United States | DF | (1996-09-06)September 6, 1996 (aged 25) | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | 3 (2019) |
| 21 | Tate Schmitt (HGP) | United States | FW | (1997-05-28)May 28, 1997 (aged 24) | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | 3 (2019) |
| 22 | Aaron Herrera (HGP) | United States | DF | (1997-06-06)June 6, 1997 (aged 24) | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | 4 (2018) |
| 23 | Milan Iloski (HGP) | United States | FW | (1999-07-29)July 29, 1999 (aged 22) | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | 2 (2020) |
| 24 | Jeff Dewsnup (HGP) | United States | GK | (2004-05-21)May 21, 2004 (aged 17) | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | 1 (2021) |
| 25 | Everton Luiz | Brazil | MF | (1988-05-24)May 24, 1988 (aged 33) | S.P.A.L. | 3 (2019) |
| 26 | Noah Powder | Trinidad and Tobago | DF | (1998-10-27)October 27, 1998 (aged 23) | Real Monarchs | 1 (2021) |
| 27 | Bret Halsey (GA) | United States | DF | (2000-06-01)June 1, 2000 (aged 21) | Virginia Cavaliers | 1 (2021) |
| 28 | Jeizon Ramírez (DP) | Venezuela | FW | (2001-03-24)March 24, 2001 (aged 20) | Deportivo Táchira F.C. | 2 (2020) |
| 29 | Anderson Julio | Ecuador | MF | (1996-05-31)May 31, 1996 (aged 25) | Atlético San Luis (on loan) | 1 (2021) |
| 30 | Marcelo Silva | Uruguay | DF | (1989-03-21)March 21, 1989 (aged 32) | Real Zaragoza | 5 (2017) |
| 32 | Zack Farnsworth (HGP) | United States | DF | (2002-07-13)July 13, 2002 (aged 19) | Real Salt Lake Academy (HGP) | 1 (2021) |
| 43 | Justin Portillo | United States | MF | (1992-09-09)September 9, 1992 (aged 29) | Real Monarchs | 3 (2019) |
| 44 | Toni Datković | Croatia | DF | (1993-11-06)November 6, 1993 (aged 28) | Aris Thessaloniki | 1 (2021) |
| 51 | Andrew Putna | United States | GK | (1994-10-21)October 21, 1994 (aged 27) | Real Monarchs | 4 (2018) |

### Transfers

    As of September 22, 2021

#### In

| Player | Position | Previous Club | Fees/Notes | Date | Notes |
| Bode Davis | FW | Real Monarchs | Free transfer | September 22, 2020 | |
| Noah Powder | DF | Real Monarchs | Free transfer | September 24, 2020 | |
| Andrew Brody | DF | Real Monarchs | Free transfer | September 25, 2020 | |
| Rubio Rubin | FW | San Diego Loyal SC | Undisclosed | January 7, 2021 | |
| Jeff Dewsnup | GK | RSL Academy | Homegrown player | January 7, 2021 | |
| Bobby Wood | FW | Hamburger SV | Undisclosed | April 2, 2021 | Joined Club on June 3, 2021 |
| Jonathan Menéndez | FW | Independiente | Undisclosed | May 29, 2021 | |
| Toni Datković | DF | Aris Thessaloniki | Undisclosed | June 2, 2021 | |
| Zack Farnsworth | DF | RSL Academy | Homegrown Player | June 16, 2021 | |

#### MLS Drafts

| Player | Position | Acquired From | Fees/Notes | Date |
| Bret Halsey | DF | Virginia Cavaliers | SuperDraft, 1st Round, Pick 7 | January 21, 2021 |
| Elijah Amo | MF | Louisville Cardinals | SuperDraft, 2nd Round, Pick 34 | January 21, 2021 |
| Aris Briggs | FW | Georgia State Panthers | SuperDraft, 3nd Round, Pick 61 | January 21, 2021 |
| Rene White | FW | NJIT Highlanders | SuperDraft, Compensatory Pick, Pick 84 | January 21, 2021 |

#### Out

| Player | Position | Next Club | Fees/Notes | Date |
| Sam Johnson | FW | Sabah | Mutual Agreement | October 31, 2020 |
| Nedum Onuoha | DF | Retired | Retired | November 8, 2020 |
| Luke Mulholland | MF | Retired | Retired | November 8, 2020 |
| Alvin Jones | DF | | Option Declined | November 30, 2020 |
| Luis Arriaga | MF | North Carolina FC | Option Declined | November 30, 2020 |
| Giuseppe Rossi | FW | SPAL | Option Declined | November 30, 2020 |
| Julián Vázquez | FW | Las Vegas Lights | Option Declined | November 30, 2020 |
| Kyle Beckerman | MF | Retired | Retired | December 21, 2020 |
| Corey Baird | FW | Los Angeles FC | $500,000 + int'l roster spot | January 11, 2021 |

##### Notes

* ^ Option Declined (OPT): Players who have had their option declined may still be resigned by the club under a new contract.
* ^ Free Agent (FREE): Players who are out of contract may still be resigned by the club under a new contract.

### Loans
#### In

| Player | Position | Loaned From | Fees/Notes | Date |
| Anderson Julio | FW | Atlético San Luis | Loan for entire 2021 season | March 12, 2021 |

#### Out

| Player | Position | Loaned To | Fees/Notes | Date |
| Tate Schmitt | FW | Phoenix Rising | Loan for the remainder of the 2021 season | June 10, 2021 |
| Chris Garcia | FW | Ljungskile SK | Loan for the entire 2021 Superettan season (Nov 2021) | August 10, 2021 |
| Douglas Martínez | FW | San Diego Loyal | Loan for the remainder of the 2021 season | August 23, 2021 |

### Trialist

| Player | Position | Previous team | Notes | Date | Result |